Buoy supported flexible loading hose



Feb. 8, 1955 L.. AULT gm BUOY SUPPORTED FLEXIBLE LOADING HOSE Filed June 22, 1953 2 Shets-5hee l [SAAB L j UL 'T iNz/ENTQR.

Feb. 8, 1955 AULT BUOY SUPPORTED FLEXIBLE LOADING HOSE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 22, 1953 mmx JSAAU L@ ULT JNVENTOR. v

BY LQWLJ ATTURNEY lifted States BUUY SUPPOR'I'ED FLEXIBLE LOADHNG HUSE Application June 22, 1953, Serial No. 363,255

6 Claims. (Cl. 9-8) This invention relates to oil loading hoses and relates more particularly to a buoy-supported flexible loading hose for loading oil on oil barges and tankers.

With the advent of offshore oil well drilling, there developed problems of getting the produced oil from the wells or storage tanks near the wells to oil barges and tankers which haul the oil to the shore. Fixed platforms have been used for supporting loading hoses and for mooring and loading oil barges and tankers, but they have presented many difliculties. Offshore oil wells frequently are located in areas of open water where they are subject to the tides, the full forces of high winds and waves, and currents which frequently cause damage to the platforms and to the oil barges and tankers moored thereto. Fixed platforms often cannot be approached during adverse weather, and if' such weather occurs during loading, the barge or tanker may pull away from the platform. They are expensive to construct and maintain as they must be supported on pilings sunk deep into the bottom of the body of water, must be of sufficient strength to withstand adverse weather conditions, and must be supported at a sufficient height above the water to keep the equipment protected from high waves and high tides.

It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for loading oil from offshore oit wells to oil barges and tankers. lt s another object of this invention to provide an ofl'shore oil loading apparatus which will not be affected by adverse weather conditions such as high Winds and waves. it is another object of this invention to provide an offshore oil loading apparatus which may be constructed at a minimum cost. It is another object of this invention to provide an offshore oil loading apparatus which is as readily usable during periods of high tide as during periods of low tide. It is a further object of this invention to provide an offshore oil loading apparatus to which oil barges and tankers may be moored without damage during periods of adverse weather conditions.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a flexible loading hose supported by a large buoy which is anchored to the bed of the body of water at a plurality of points, each of the buoy anchor lines being provided with small marker buoys. The flexible loading hose support buoy is provided around its upper portion with a plurality of lines for mooring oil barges and tankers thereto. The portion of the loading hose above the buoy is secured to the remainder of the loading hose by means of a fluid conducting swivel joint allowing this portion of the hose to be moved about freely for loading and to hang free in the water when not in use.

The invention will be more readily understood by a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of my invention with an oil barge moored thereto.

.Figure 2 is an elevation partially in section of the flexible loading hose support buoy and the loading hose of Figure l shown in the position it assumes when not in use.

Figure 3 is a top plan view in diagrammatic form showing the disposition of the anchor lines and marker buoys about the large support buoy ofthe embodiment of my invention shown in Figure l.

Figure 4 is a view in vertical section of the flexible loading hose support buoy.

Referring to the drawings, buoy l is constructed in the form of a cylinder having rounded edges, re-entrant portions 2 and 3 in the ends formed about the vertical axis l"stent Sil thereof, and having a tubular member 4, the axis of which is coincident with the vertical axis of said cylinder, opening into and connecting said pre-entrant portions. The inside of buoy 1 is divided into a plurality of watertight compartments, shown herein 1n Figure 3 as eight in num ber, by radially disposed vertical partitions 5 secured to tubular member 4. Buoy 1 is constructed of a rigid material. such as steel, and preferably is finished with a material which will render it resistant to the corrosive effect of the water in which it floats. Partitions 5 and tubular member 4 constitute a framework which is covered by the skin or walls 6 of the buoy. Centrally apertured flange 10 is positioned above re-entrant 2 and secured to buoy 1 by means of support members 11. Hose 12, secured at its upper end to nipple 13, is held at its upper end within buoy 1 by afl'ixing nipple 13 to the bottom side of flange 10 by welding or by any other suitable means. The inside diameter of tubular member 4 and the outside diameter of hose 12 are so related that hose 12 will fit loosely within tubular member 4. Hose 12 is made of a flexible material which will conduct oil, will withstand indefinite periods of submersion in water, fresh or salt, and is of such a length that it will extend from buoy 1 to the bed 14 of the body of water, hereinafter referred to as the bed, with enough slack to allow buoy 1 to rise and fall with the tide and wave motions. Oil storage facilities (not shown) are connected to hose 12, which may, of course, consist of any desired number of suitable lengths. The rounded surface of buoy 1 within re-entrant 3 allows hose 12 to move about without contacting sharp edges which might tend to cut it.

Secured to the upper face of flange 10 by welding or bolting is centrally apertured flange 15. Flange 10 and flange 15 are so positioned relative to each other that "their central apertures coincide. Swivel joint 16 adapted to pass fluid therethrough is welded at one end thereof into the aperture of flange 15, or otherwise securely attached thereto, in such a manner that fluid passing through the aperture in flange 15 will flow into swivel joint 16. Swivel joint 16 is a fluid conducting universal type joint. Loading hose 20, provided at one end with screw-threaded nipple 21, is screw-threaded into the other end of swivel joint 16. Thus, it may be seen that fluid communication is provided through hose 12, flanges 10 and 15, and swivel joint 16 into loading hose 20. Loading hose 20 has flanged nipple 22 secured to its other end. A removable fluid-tight closure for loading hose 20 is provided by screw bolting blind flange 23 to flanged nipple 22. Flange 23 has secured to it ring 24 to which is fixed one end of line 25, the other end of which is connected to floating buoy 30 by a U-bolt, or other suitable means. Buoy 30, provided with handle 31, is made of balsa wood or any other suitable buoyant material.

Loading hose 20 is shown in Figure 2 in the position it assumes when not being used for loading oil aboard a barge. When oil barge loading is desired, handle 31 on buoy 30 is engaged by a hook or other suitable means to pull hose 20 aboard an oil barge where flange 23 is removed -and flanged nipple 22 is secured to the oil inlet on the barge.

Hose 20 is preferably made of the same material as hose 12 and is of a length which will permit it to be drawn aboard an oil barge and secured to the oil inlet of the barge without being put under a tension which might cause damage to the hose or cause the connection on the barge to be broken.

Padeyes 32 are positioned around the upper portion of buoy 1 above the normal waterline on the buoy. They are welded into notches provided in radially disposed partitions 5. It will be recognized that the padeyes may he secured to buoy 1 by any other suitable means or may be made integral with partitions 5. ln this embodiment, four padeyes 32, spaced at 9() degree intervals about buoy 1, are used. Although more or less than this number of padeyes may be used, it is preferred that the number be sufficient to enable the oil barge to be moored to buoy 1 at any point around said buoy. Pivotally secured to each of said padeyes are mooring lines 33 for mooring an oil barge to buoy l. Lines 33 may be of any suitable material, such as steel rope or chains, and should be of a length which will permit an oil barge to be held close enough to buoy l. to prevent any undue tension on loading hose 20. In Figure l, an oil barge is shown moored to buoy 1 by means of one of mooring lines 33.

Padeyes 34 are positioned on the side of buoy 1 near the bottom thereof in vertical alignment with padeyes 32 and are secured to buoy 1 in the same manner as padeyes 32. Anchor' lines 35 are pivotally secured at one end thereof to padeyes 34 and are affixed at the other end by means of U-bolts 40 to pilings 41 which are then sunk deep into bed 14. ln this embodiment, anchor lines 35 comprise three sections, each end section being made of steel chain while the middle section is made of wire rope. lt is to be understood, however, that anchor lines 35 may be made of any other suitable material. Anchor lines 35 are of substantial length and pilings 41 are positioned outwardly from buoy 1 such that buoy 1 will remain in a relatively fixed location but will be free to rise and fall with the tides and waves. The embodiment shown maires use of four anchor lines positioned at 90 degree intervals about buoy 1, as shown in Figure 3, but it is to be understood that any number desired in excess of three may be used. If less than three are used, it is difficult to maintain buoy 1 in a fixed location in the water.

A mat d?. is secured to each of anchor lines 35 below said anchor lines at a point where each of said anchor lines is resting on bed 14 of the body of water. Connecting mat i2 to marker buoy 43, floating on the surface of the water, is line 44. Mat 42, in the embodiment shown, is rectangular in shape and made of a wood material treated to resist deterioration from the water, although it will be understood that it may be constructed in any desirable shape and of any suitable material, such as steel. The function of mats 42 is to secure marker buoys 43 to anchor lines 35. Marker buoys 43 are shown as spheres in form and are made of hollow steel construction, but may be constructed in any other desirable form and of any other suitable material. The purposes of marker buoys 43 are to warn approaching vessels of the presence of buoy 1, to assist oil barges in locating buoy 1, and to aid in retrieving anchor lines 35 in the event buoy l breaks away from said anchor lines.

Having thus described my invention, it will be understood that such description has been given by way of illustration and example and not by way of limitation, reference for the latter purpose being had to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. An apparatus of the character described which comprises in combination a large buoy adapted to float at the surface of a body of water, said buoy being of substantially cylindrical configuration and having an axial tubular opening therethrough, a fluid-conducting swivel joint secured to the top of said buoy with one end positioned over and projecting downwardly toward said tubular opening, a flexible, fluid-conducting hose secured in fluid-tight relation to said end of said swivel joint and extending downwardly therefrom through said tubular opening to the bottom of said body of water and along said bottom to iluid supply facilities, a second flexible fluid-conducting hose connected at one end thereof to the other end of said swivel joint, said second hose being provided with means permitting the other end of said hose to be pulled aboard a loading vessel, a plurality of mooring lines secured to the upper portion of said buoy for mooring a loading vessel thereto, and a plurality of anchor lines secured between said buoy and pilings driven deep into the bottom of the body of water.

2. An apparatus of the character described which comprisesin combination a large buoy adapted to lloat at the surface of a body of water, said buoy being of substantially cylindrical configuration and provided with a plurality of' water-tight compartments and an axial-tubular opening therethrough, a fluid-conducting swivel joint secured by support means to the top of said buoy, one end of said swivel joint projecting downward toward said tubular opening, a fluid-conducting, flexible hose secured in uuid-tight relation to said end of said swivel joint and projecting downwardly therefrom through said tubular opening to the bottom of said body of water and along said bottom to fluid supply facilities, said hose being long nough to allow said buoy to rise and fall with tides and wave motions, a second fluid-conducting, flexible hose r ured at one end thereof to the other end of said swivel it., said second hose being oi a sufficient length to perto be drawn aboard t loading vessel moored to a flanged nipple si l. to the other end of said second hose, a blind flange removably secured to said flanged nipple, a line secured to said blind flange, a small buoy secured to said line, said small buoy being adapted to lloat at the surface and havinga handle attached to the upper side thereof, a plurality of padeyes secured to the side and near the upper end of said large buoy, mooring lines affixed to said padeyes, a plurality of padeyes secured to the side and near the bottom of said large buoy, anchor lines secured at one end thereof to said last mentioned padeyes, said anchor lines being secured at their other ends to pilings sunk deep into the bottom of the body of water, said pilings being equally spaced about and equidistant from said large buoy, and marker buoy means secured to each of said anchor lines outwardly from said large buoy.

3. An apparatus of the character described which cornprises in combination a large buoy adapted to float at the surface of a body of water, said large buoy being of welded steel construction of substantially cylindrical configuration with a plurality of water-tight compartments formed therein and having re-entrant portions formed in each end thereof and an axial tubular opening therethrough connecting said re-entrant portions, a plurality of support members secured to the top of said buoy within said re-entrant portion and extending upwardly and inwardly therefrom, a centrally apertured flange secured in a horizontal position to said support members, a fluidconducting swivel joint secured at one end thereof to the top side of said flange positioned such that the internal opening of said swivel joint is coincident with the central aperture of said flange, a tluid-conducting, flexible hose secured at one end in fluid-tight relation to the bottom side of said flange and projecting downwardly therefrom through said tubular opening to the bottom of said body of water and along said bottom to fluid supply facilities, a second fluid-conducting, flexible hose connected at one end thereof to the other end of said swivel joint, said second hose being of such a length that it may be drawn aboard a loading vessel moored to said large buoy, a ilanged nipple secured to the other end of said last inentioned hose, a blind flange removably secured to said flanged nipple, 'a line secured to said blind flange, a small buoy secured to said line and adapted to float at the surface, a handle secured to the top of said small buoy, a plurality of padeyes secured to the side of said large buoy near the upper end thereof, a plurality of lines each secured at one end thereof to one of said padeyes for mooring a loading vessel to said large buoy, a plurality of padeyes secured to the side of said large buoy near the lower end thereof, a plurality of anchor piles driven deep into the bottom of the body of water and positioned equidistant from and equally spaced about said large buoy, a plurality of anchor lines each connected at one end thereof to one of said last mentioned padeyes and connected at the other end thereof to each of said anchor piles, a plurality of mats each positioned on the surface of the bottom of the body of water and secured on its upper surface to one of said anchor lines outward from said large buoy, a plurality of lines each secured to one of said mats, and a plurality of marker buoys each secured to one of said last mentioned lines and adapted to float at the surface of the body of water.

fl. An apparatus of the character described which comprises in combination a large buoy adapted to float at the surface of a body of water, said buoy being of substantially cylindrical configuration and having an axial tubular opening therethrough, a fluid-conducting swivel joint secured to the top of' said buoy with one end positioned over and projecting downwardly toward said tubular open- 1ng, a flexible, fluid-conducting hose secured in fluid-tight relation to said end of said swivel joint and extending downwardly therefrom through said tubular opening to the bottom of said body of water and along said bottom to fluid supply facilities, a second flexible fluid-conducting hose connected at one end thereof to the other end of said swivel joint, said second hose being provided with means permitting the other end of said hose to be pulled aboard a loading vessel, a plurality of mooring lines secured to the upper portion of said buoy for mooring a loading vessel thereto and a plurality of anchor lines secured to said buoy.

h5. An apparatus of the character described which comprises 1n combination a large buoy adapted to float at the surface of a body of water, said buoy being of substantially cylindrical configuration and provided with a plurality of water-tight compartments and an axial tubular opening therethrough, a fluid-conducting swivel joint secured by support means to the top of said buoy, one end of said swivel joint projecting downward toward said tubular opening, a duid-conducting, llexible hose secured in fluid-tight relation to said end of said swivel joint and projecting downwardly therefrom through said tubular opening to the bottom of said body of water and along said bottom to lluid supply facilities, said hose being long enough to allow said buoy to rise and fall with tides and wave motions, a second fluid-conducting, flexible hose secured at one end thereof to the other end of said swivel joint, said second hose being of a sullcient length to permit it to be drawn aboard a loading vessel moored to said buoy, a flanged nipple secured to the other end of said second hose, a blind flange removably secured to said flanged nipple, a line secured to said blind llange, a small buoy secured to said line, said small buoy being adapted to float at the surface and having a handle attached to the upper side thereof, a plurality of padeyes secured to the side and near the upper end of said large buoy, mooring lines afxed to said padeyes, a plurality of padeyes secured to the side and near the bottom of said large buoy, anchor lines secured at one end thereof to said last mentioned padeyes and marker buoy means secured to each of said anchor lines outwardly from said large buoy.

6. An apparatus of the character described which comprises in combination a large buoy adapted to float at the surface of a body of water, said large buoy being of welded steel construction of substantially cylindrical conguration with a plurality of water-tight compartments formed therein and having reentrant portions formed n each end thereof and an axial tubular opening therethrough connecting said re-entrant portions, a plurality of support members secured to the top of said buoy within said re-entrant portion and extending upwardly and inwardly therefrom, a centrally apertured llange secured in a horizontal position to said support members, a lluidconducting swivel joint secured at one end thereof to the top side of said flange positioned such that the internal opening of said swivel joint is coincident with the central aperture of said llange, a fluid-conducting, llexible hose secured at one end in fluid-tight relation to the bottom side of said flange and projecting downwardly therefrom through said tubular opening to the bottom of saidbody of water and along said bottom to llilid supply facilities, a second fluid-conducting, flexible hose connected at one end thereof to the other end of said swivel joint, said second hose being of such a length that it may be drawn aboard a loading vessel moored to said large buoy, a flanged nipple secured to the other end of said last mentioned hose, a blind flange removably secured to said flanged nipple, a line secured to said blind llange, a small buoy secured to said line and adapted to lloat 'at the surface, a handle secured to the top of said small buoy, a plurality of padeyes secured to the side of said large buoy near the upper end thereof, a plurality of lines each secured at one end thereof to one of said padeyes for mooring a loading vessel t o said large buoy, a plurality of padeyes secured to the side of said large buoy near the lower end thereof, a plurality of anchor lines each connected at one end thereof to one of said last mentioned padeyes, a plurality of mats each positioned on the .surface of the bottom of the body of water and secured on its upper surface to one of said anchor lines outward from said large buoy, a plurality of lines each secured to one of said mats, and a plurality of marker buoys each secured to one of said last mentioned lines and adapted to float at the surface of the body of Water.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 427,480 Paine May 6, 1890 747,114 Allison Dec. 15, 1903 2,383,840 Benckert Aug. 28, 1945 2,648,201 Marancik et al. Aug. 11, 193?? FOREIGN PATENTS 81,345 Sweden Aug. 28, 1934 429,833 Germany June 4, 1926 

